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definitions

tyke

1

or tike

[tahyk]
See more synonyms for tyke on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a child, especially a small boy.
  2. any small child.
  3. a cur; mongrel.
  4. Chiefly Scot. a low, contemptible fellow; boor.

Origin of tyke

1
1350–1400; Middle English < Old Norse tīk bitch

tyke

2

or tike

[tahyk]
noun
  1. Australia and New Zealand Informal. a Roman Catholic.

Origin of tyke

2
1940–45; compare Ulster English Taig contemptuous term for a Roman Catholic Irishman, archaic English teague derogatory name for an Irishman < Irish Tadhg a common personal name
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for tyke

boy, cur, dog, child, squirt, mongrel

Examples from the Web for tyke

Contemporary Examples of tyke

Historical Examples of tyke

  • You're in Bermondsey, mister, an' if you tyke my advice you'll go 'ome an' sty 'ome.

    Changing Winds

    St. John G. Ervine

  • If I tyke it I want to feel it is syme as my very own and do my dooty by it, pore thing!

    The Christian

    Hall Caine

  • "And down't you tyke on so, Lidjer," said the husband, and they looked as if they were about to embrace.

    The Christian

    Hall Caine

  • Naow, I'll styke my reputation on somethin', you tyke it dahn word for word.

  • And what d'yo' think o' that, Mr. M'Adam, for a wunnerfu' story of a wunnerfu' tyke?

    Bob, Son of Battle

    Alfred Ollivant

British Dictionary definitions for tyke

tyke

tike

noun
  1. a dog, esp a mongrel
  2. informal a small or cheeky child: used esp in affectionate reproof
  3. British dialect a rough ill-mannered person
  4. Also called: Yorkshire tyke British slang, often offensive a person from Yorkshire
  5. Australian slang, offensive a Roman Catholic

Word Origin for tyke

C14: from Old Norse tīk bitch
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for tyke
n.

c.1400, "cur, mongrel," from Old Norse tik "bitch," related to Middle Low German tike. Also applied in Middle English to a low-bred or lazy man. The meaning "child" is from 1902, though it was used in playful reproof from 1894.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper